An international team including Otago Polytechnic researchers Hana Cadzow and James Mackay won best presented paper at this year's Work Integrated Learning New Zealand conference.

"Work-integrated courses as an alternative tertiary education: Lessons from UK, New Zealand and Canada" received the the Allister McLay Best Paper Award for its examples of good practice across three continents.

Hana Cadzow from Engineering Technologies at Otago Polytechnic presented the paper on behalf of her co-authors, all members of the International Network for Degree Apprenticeships. The network’s partner institutions include Manchester Metropolitan University (UK), York University (Canada), University of Cordoba (Spain), Edith Cowan University (Australia) and Otago Polytechnic (Aotearoa New Zealand). Since its inception in 2021, the network has facilitated visits and forums to enrich the experiences of academics and apprentices involved in Work-Integrated Learning programmes. Work-Integrated Learning schemes are known as degree apprenticeships in the UK and New Zealand and integrated programs in Canada. Such schemes have a demonstrated positive impact on learners' lives and can improve social mobility and economic productivity.

The team's presentation mapped out lessons learned across institutions in three countries. They shared strategies for ensuring that work-integrated learning schemes meet the needs of employers, supporting learners, and negotiating regulatory and funding landscapes. They also discussed how Work-Integrated Learning schemes can establish themselves as an alternative route within tertiary education. The outcome of this research will provide an internationally-sourced guideline for stakeholders involved in designing new Work-Integrated Learning schemes or hoping to review existing initiatives.

Associate Professor Martin Andrew from Otago Polytechnic, who attended the session, describes Cadzow and colleagues' paper as "innovative, wide-ranging and intensely relevant." He notes that the presenters of the award commended the paper's ability to embrace the theme of the conference ("Thriving together: Partners and Practice") and to highlight the current and future need for applied degrees via apprenticeship.

Martin Andrew praises the presentation for

functioning as a provocation to both the work-integrated and work-based learning sectors to consider more carefully the need and demand for degrees that can match curricula and the needs of apprentices.

Otago Polytechnic researchers were well represented at the WILNZ conference, which took place at Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington from 9-10 April 2024.

Read the WILNZ 2024 conference abstracts

Find more research from Hana Cadzow and James Mackay

Explore work-based learning at Capable NZ and Otago Polytechnic